Product Review: Poya Vanilla Rose Skin Care Range
- browseandbrushes
- Mar 10, 2015
- 11 min read
Beauty is more than skin deep - We wear a ton of different products during our lifetime and no one really knows how certain chemicals affect us over time. Organic ingredients are those grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, which is healthier not only for our bodies but for the planet as well. Organic products have not gained popularity solely because of the ingredients but because they are absorbed much more effectively by the body and therefore provide better results. We had the first hand opportunity to try the latest organic skincare brand POYA that has made its entry into the burgeoning Dubai organic scene and might we say our experience was quite elevating.
Drawing inspiration from many cultures around the world, POYA has developed a luxurious range of premium spa products consisting of natural scrubs, muds, massage bases and synergy blends. Formulated with pure and natural oils, natural raw materials, botanical extracts and vitamins, they contain the Essence of Nature. Manufactured in Canada, POYA uses only the finest ingredients that are ethically sourced and naturally derived.
The emphasis of POYA Shea Therapy is the deep hydration readily offered by Shea Butter which is very close to the structure of the human sebum, so it is easily absorbed by the skin. Its natural Vitamins A and E stimulate cell regeneration, improving circulation to the cells and healing of damaged tissues. In addition, each product contains different botanical assistants addressing different aspects of the complexion.
The entire range is naturally scented with pure essential oils, and is 100% vegan and cruelty–free, as well as free from SLS, Parabens, Petrochemicals, synthetic dyes and fragrances.
Poya Vanilla Rose Face Polish 90g
What is it?
A gentle scrub for exfoliating, brightening and renewing the skin’s complexion. Formulated with a blend of Shea Butter, Papaya Fruit Extract, Coconut Oil and Sunflower Beads, this scrub offers gentle, yet effective exfoliation by buffing off dead skin cells. At the same time, it replenishes the skin's moisture barrier and leaves your complexion looking absolutely radiant!
What it contains?
Aloe Vera - for its gentle and moisturizing emollient effect
Bamboo Leaf - rich in silica, it contributes to skin's elasticity and softening
Coconut Oil - improves the moisture and lipid content of the skin, and blocks ultraviolet rays
Green Tea - antioxidant polyphenols protect cells from free radicals
Lavender - its linalool content reduces inflammation
Licorice - its tonic and anti-inflammatory constituents are desired for invigorating and brightening the skin
Papaya Fruit Extract - its papain is an exfoliating fruit enzyme
Rose Geranium - offering a haunting floral scent, it also has soothing yet mild astringent properties
Rosemary - antioxidant and antimicrobial
Shea Butter - full of nutrients, an emollient with Vitamin A to help wrinkles, and eczema
Sunflower Beads - gentle, non-scratching exfoliating beads made from sunflower seed wax
Vanilla - a powerful polyphenol antioxidant that soothes inflammation
How to use it?
Apply a small amount and gently massage it all over your face and neck in a circular motion, avoiding the area around the eyes. Rinse well with warm water, and gently pat dry. Moisturize with High-Intensity Face Cream and Intensive Eye Cream. For best results, use weekly.
Price
AED 111 for 90g
Experience
We are very selective when using skincare products because of our extremely sensitive and dry skin. When it comes to face scrubs, we prefer ones that use natural exfoliants (peach kernel, nut shell, etc.) instead of polyethylene beads. We love that Poya face polish contains sunflower beads because they are not harsh and rough but quite gentle making it a good product for everyday use.
While it exfoliates like a pro, it also nourishes at the same time. Clogged pores, oily t-zone and blotchiness are few of the skin troubles we deal with because of a mix of the unpredictable Dubai weather and the aircon. This scrub keeps all those nasty effects at bay, without drying the skin out. Our skin has noticeably become a lot smoother, more even and with almost invisible pores.
It also has a much easier-to-apply consistency (cream instead of chunky sludge) and doesn’t leave any residue.
Conclusion
It is fairly moisturizing and does a decent job of cleaning the face as well as exfoliating. We love that it is completely organic because there is nothing in it to irritate the skin and zero artificial scent. We recommend using it and leaving it on so the goodness soaks in while you shower then rinse off for lovely smooth, soft nourished skin. The price seems a bit steep but when it comes to your skin quality is the last thing you should compromise on right?
Poya Vanilla Rose Hydrating Cleansing Cream 240ml
What is it?
A one step cleanser to wash away impurities and make-up. This silky smooth cleansing cream is enriched with skin-softening Shea Butter and formulated with natural botanical ingredients such as Bamboo Leaf, Green Tea, and Rosemary Leaf extracts combined with the enhancement of essential oils that include Vanilla, Rose Geranium and Lavender, this balancing cleanser, with the addition of Glycerin and Vitamin E will leave your skin radiant, rejuvenated and supple.
What it contains?
Aloe Vera - for its gentle and moisturizing emollient effect
Apple - an elastase inhibitor to support skin's health, its Alpha-Hydroxy acids refine and rejuvenate
Bamboo Leaf - rich in silica, it contributes to skin's elasticity and softening
Chamomile - soothing, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory
Lavender - its linalool content reduces inflammation
Milk Thistle - rich in silymarin, it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents
Papaya Fruit Extract - its papain is an exfoliating fruit enzyme
Rose Geranium - offering a haunting floral scent, it also has soothing yet mild astringent properties
Shea Butter - full of nutrients, an emollient with Vitamin A to help blemishes, wrinkles, and eczema
Vanilla - a powerful polyphenol antioxidant that soothes inflammation
Witch Hazel - gentle, non-drying alcohol free astringency
How to use it?
Apply a pea-sized amount to a damp washcloth or cotton pad and massage into the skin. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. This is ideal as a daily cleanser and make-up remover. Avoid getting the creamy cleanser in your eyes.
Price
AED 86 for 240ml
Experience
Gentle, yet effective, this herbal cleanser packed a punch in terms of skin nourishing. This is a must have for any beauties with sensitive and/or dry skin. It’s nourishing and the calming aloe vera infusion is fantastic for taking away impurities and excess oil, without stripping the skin of its natural softness.
As with any gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, you will need an eye and lip makeup remover if you do wear eye makeup and lipstick; however, you will find this to leave your skin smooth and clean. It comes in the form of a creamy gel like substance (without the foam) so application is great.
Conclusion
An effective all-natural cleanser that not only does a fantastic job in cleansing the skin but also in nourishing and rejuvenating the skin.
Poya Vanilla Rose High Intensity Face Cream 60g
What is it?
A luxurious face cream that helps brighten the skin for visibly radiant looking skin with a more youthful appearance. Perfect for all skin types, it provides the anti-oxidant actions of Vitamin E and Rosemary Leaf and Apple Extracts, to result in skin elasticity and suppleness, the results of a complexion that is properly moisturized and toned. Enriched with botanical extracts of toning Cucumber, soothing Chamomile, and skin-softening Bamboo Leaf, this will leave the complexion soft and silky.
What it contains?
Apple - an elastase inhibitor to support skin's health, its Alpha-Hydroxy acids refine and rejuvenate
Bamboo Leaf - rich in silica, it contributes to skin's elasticity and softening
Chamomile - soothing, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory
Cucumber - mildly astringent, toning
Green Tea - antioxidant polyphenols protect cells from free radicals
Lavender - its linalool content reduces inflammation
Licorice - its tonic and anti-inflammatory constituents are desired for invigorating and brightening the skin
Rose Geranium - having a lovely scent, it also has soothing yet mild astringent properties
Rosemary - antioxidant and antimicrobial
Shea Butter - full of nutrients, an emollient with Vitamin A to help blemishes, wrinkles, and eczema
Vanilla - a powerful polyphenol antioxidant that soothes inflammation
Vitamin E - another antioxidant to help maintain the health of your cells
White Willow Bark - a powerful anti-inflammatory to soothe the complexion
How to use it?
Apply a small amount of cream to the entire face and neck in light upward strokes. For best results, use daily, both morning and evening.
Price
AED 99 for 60g
Experience
We have each have one face cream that we have been religiously using since forever, Oil of Olay (Sue) and Clinique (Stacey) and occasionally use the Caudalie vinosource serum. But we might just add one more to our kitty – Poya High Intensity Face Cream.
Being in our 20s, we have true combination skin which includes occasional blemishes, flakiness around the nose and cheeks, and oiliness in the t-zone which sometimes increases as the day progresses. Within 3 days our skin looked fresh and bright and within about a week and a half of use, we found the skin around the forehead to be less oily, and soft overall. Though the flakiness was still there, we did notice a reduction in the occasional blemishes.
The cream itself is not too thick and cakey and absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any sticky residue.
We did find our skin feel a lot firmer and the hydration lasts for quite a few hours which is great. We cannot really comment on whether it helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles but our skin did feel a lot softer and supple.
Conclusion
A little goes a long way, and it is quickly absorbed as if the skin knew its good for it! Recommend it for those with oily skin as because of its impressive oil- reduction capabilities.
Poya Vanilla Rose Intensive Eye Cream 30g
What is it?
Infused with Bamboo Leaf and Cucumber Extracts and Shea Butter, this luscious eye cream helps to diminish the appearance of fine lines, puffy eyes and dark circles.
Silica–rich Bamboo Leaf helps to hydrate delicate tissues where signs of aging are most likely to appear first. Cucumber's lutein helps to suppress the process that leads to skin discoloration around the eyes. Cucumber's mild and cooling astringent properties are often relied upon to gently reduce the appearance of puffy eyes.
Fortified with Shea Butter, well known for its deeply soothing and moisturizing properties, this cream is full of nutrients, including Vitamin A, which in itself has many healing properties and has been known to aid in treating blemishes, wrinkles, eczema and dermatitis.
What it contains?
Bamboo Leaf - rich in silica, it contributes to skin's elasticity and softening
Coconut Oil - improves the moisture and lipid content of the skin, and blocks ultraviolet rays
Cucumber - mildly astringent, toning
Green Tea - antioxidant polyphenols protect cells from free radicals
Honeysuckle - with anti-inflammatory, astringent, and anti-oxidant properties, it soothes and enhances the appearance of the skin
Lavender - its linalool content reduces inflammation
Licorice - its tonic and anti-inflammatory constituents are desired for invigorating and brightening the skin
Rose Geranium - offering a haunting floral scent, it also has soothing yet mild astringent properties
Rosemary - antioxidant and antimicrobial
Shea Butter - full of nutrients, an emollient with Vitamin A to help blemishes, wrinkles, and eczema
Vanilla - a powerful polyphenol antioxidant that soothes inflammation
Vitamin E - another antioxidant to help maintain the health of your cells
White Willow Bark - a powerful anti-inflammatory to soothe the complexion
How to use it?
Gently apply a pearl-sized amount around the eye area. Using a light touch, gently pat the cream around the entire orbital area and up to the eyebrow. For best results, use daily both morning and evening.
Price
AED 92 for 30g
Experience
With the vast amount of different under-eye creams available, ranging in price and promises, picking the right eye cream can be tricky? The best organic eye cream will reduce dark circles, minimize the appearance of fine lines and reduce puffiness around the eye. Trustworthy eye creams will be small in size (if they are big, chances are it contains undesirable preservatives to keep it from spoiling), free of harmful ingredients like parabens, alcohol, phthalates, petroleum, sodium sulfates, diazolidinyl urea or iodopropynyl butylcarbamate and thin in consistency as a heavy eye cream simply coats the surface of your under eye skin; the ingredients are too thick to penetrate the skin.
Poya’s eye cream ticks all these boxes and the effect has been nothing short of amazing. Though some might doubt the product because of the Cetearyl Alcohol and Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate content, it is important to note that Cetearyl Alcohol is classified as a fatty alcohol which is good alcohol and NGD is seen as a good alternative to silicones and has been rated by the Cosmetics Database as 100% safe.
The results were only visible after daily usage for 2 weeks but every application leaves a refreshing feeling behind that lingers for quite a while.
Conclusion
A great reasonably priced eye cream that actually does work. Of course, this needs to be coupled with good sleeping habits and a diet with less salt if you truly want to combat puffiness.
Poya Vanilla Rose Balancing Toning Mist 240ml
What is it?
Provides gentle hydration to reduce the appearance of pores and oily shine. It also helps to improve the absorption of a moisturizer or serum, with just a spritz. A must for air travelers and in air-conditioned environments!
What it contains?
Aloe Vera - for its gentle and moisturizing emollient effect
Apple - an elastase inhibitor to support skin's health, its Alpha-Hydroxy acids refine and rejuvenate
Bamboo Leaf - rich in silica, it contributes to skin's elasticity and softening
Chamomile - soothing, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory
Lavender - its linalool content reduces inflammation
Milk Thistle - rich in silymarin, it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents
Rose Geranium - offering a haunting floral scent, it also has soothing yet mild astringent properties
Vanilla - a powerful polyphenol antioxidant that soothes inflammation
Vitamin E - another antioxidant to help maintain the health of your cells
Witch Hazel - gentle, non-drying alcohol free astringency
How to use it?
It is recommended to use in the morning and evening after cleansing the face to tone the skin and promote better absorption of your High-Intensity Face Cream. It is also advised to spritz the mist throughout the day to replenish moisture and refresh the skin, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Price
AED 77 from 240ml
Experience
As a fan of organic products, this mist was a refreshing introduction in our lives. The toning mist is light, naturally fragrant, stimulating and moisturizing, all at the same time. After spraying it on the skin, it helps to lightly massage your face. It does not leave any sticky residue and settles into the skin within a couple of seconds. We initially started using this as part of our facial and cleansing routine over the weekend, but after a few days incorporated it into our night time cleansing routine as the results were pretty good. One spritz of this kept overnight, really softens the skin and reduces the appearance of pores (really helped around the nose area).
We experimented a bit and found that the toning mist also works more than just a toner. It also proved to be a great make up setting spray (after applying foundation, bronzer, blush + shadows, etc but before eyeliner + mascara or it may run!) because of its matte finish. We tried using it as a primer base but the effect wasn’t as great and long lasting as when used to lock in your make up with a spritz. It helps avoid that powdery, pancake look that’s all too common with mineral makeup!
Conclusion
A great toner for those with oily to combination skin to reduce excessive shine and provide deep hydration. Out of curiosity our dads tried it and said it worked as a great aftershave! So we definitely recommend buying this one for yourself and for the better half ;)
Where is it available?
You can place your order by emailing Ms. Heena Rai on hrai@poyaorganics.com
It is rare that we would recommend nearly EVERY product in a skincare line for its efficacy and ingredient components, but POYA has definitely knocked our socks off. Probably our only gripe is with the aroma - the oils have quite a strong smell and if you’re not a fan of rose and vanilla that can be quite unfortunate – ( We would prefer the smell to be in our food rather than on our face – that being said, the range was effective and gentle).
As a special introductory offer, Poya will be extending a 10% discount on the above prices on the entire Vanilla Rose range until 31st March 2015.
For more information on their other range of products, you can visit their website: www.poyaorganics.com
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